India's second highest civilian award Padma Vibhushan was presented to scientist Raghunath Anant Mashelkar, while actor Kamal Haasan and former badminton player Pullela Gopichand were among the 12 who received the Padma Bhushan awards.

A total of 53 Padma Shri awards were presented by the President. The awardees included actor Vidya Balan and fashion designer Wendell Rodricks.

Among the dignitaries present on the occasion were Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde.